USWNT calls up Jaelin Howell to replace injured Sam Coffey for Spain friendlies

The U.S. women's national soccer team has added Gotham FC midfielder Jaelin Howell to its roster, replacing injured Manchester City player Sam Coffey for their upcoming friendlies against world champions Spain. Coffey, 27, suffered a setback during her team’s 4-1 victory over Arsenal over the weekend. Howell, 26, is a consistent performer for Gotham, having started every match of the 2025 NWSL season and leading the team in minutes played.

She has earned six caps for the U.S. national team, with one goal to her name, and last represented the team as a substitute in their final match of 2025 against Italy. U.S. head coach Emma Hayes praised Howell’s skill and potential, noting her consistent performance and improvement in decision-making with the ball. Howell joins a core group of midfielders like Lindsey Heaps, Claire Hutton, and Lily Yohannes, who are considered key players in the team's possession-based style of play.

Coffey, who was initially part of the 26-player training camp, will continue to be part of the team as they prepare for crucial World Cup qualifiers in November. Other injuries to key players, such as Gotham’s Emily Sonnett and Oregon’s Olivia Moultrie, have further highlighted the need for players like Howell to step up. The U.S. women's national team will begin their training camp at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Atlanta, with matches against Spain scheduled for later in October.